Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1887-11-23
NELLIE GRANTS HOME.
A PRETTY PLACE WITH OLD
WORLD SURROUNDINGS.

Embracing for Visit to America-AIrs.
Sartoris' Children-A Talk with Her
Concerning Her Thirteen Years Res
idence in England.
Hardly lannon's shot from the dull
English seaport of Southampton Mrs. Al
gernon Sartoris CNellie Grant, lives. On
the opposite side of the river from the
struggling outlines of this old town she
has a charming summer home. 1t Is
delightful place, not only for its mistress
and master, but for its complexion and
associations.
One afternoon recently, as the Dutch
steamer from Bremen drew into the
waters of the HANDLE, which wash the
acres of this striking abode, Mrs. Sartoris
put out in a rowboat to board it, She
was accompanied by the elder Sartoris,
who babe her an affectionate farewell as
she reached the deck of the ship. Here
was an embarkation at ones own door,
and it was the beginning of Nellie Grants
first trip to America in two years. vi
Wan, her eldest daughter and second
child, sails with her. She is beautiful
girl, the image of her mother as she can
be recalled when she first entered the
White House when her father became
president. Algernon, her eldest son, is
now boy of 10 years old; the little girl
who goes with her to America is 8, and
Rosa, the youngest, is 6. An interesting
little group the mother and children make.
But social life, as the world knows and
feels it in this locality, does not interrupt
the even tenor Of the Sartoris home.
There are Ryde Esplanade and Southsea,
two famous summer places along the
beach like our Far Rockaway, and all
within easy sight or sail OF the quiet
place towards which I hope to direct the
readers attention. Nellie Grant is the
mistress of this home now, for the elder
Mrs. Sartoris is dead. The master is the
father of the singular son who married
this splendid American girl, who so
worthily bore great name. The nus
band, having large interests in Wales, is
rarely at home, and the father devotes
himself to the care of his sons children
and his wife's happiness. The elder Sar-
toris is man of culture and refinement,
devoted to music, painting and literature.
He has means, and not only surrounds
himself with home air of art and re-
finement, but with those who deal in the
finer touches of existence. His daughter
in.iaw lives in an atmosphere of the higher
| order.
The farm is ample, well laid out and
cultivated. The house is an old building,
with two centuries Of history about it,
The proprietor has added some new fea-
lures to the architecture of the main
building, and it is ample now to house
the great troop of friends who frequently
come here tn enjoy tn good taste of the
proprietor. There are acres and acres Of
lawn and pasture, and many more acres
of flowers, shrubbery and shade.
Graveled walks lead in and out be-
tween the rows Of great trees, which
run in every direction, and tasteful
flower beds dot the whole slope from the
house to the river. The old fashioned
primrose and pink, with other flowers so
well remembered to dear old America,
garnish every part of the lawn and are So
guided that they make up quaint illustra-
tions of how beautifully colors may be
combined. Bowers of evergreens are here
and there. Overlooking the waters there
is one where trailing vines have been
guided over an archway of wire and the
climbing ivy has been colored with
wealth of flowers, which peep out cum
ningly from the dark green leaves of the
climbing plant.
This Is Nellie Grants musing place,
and it is good point from which to study
the history and surroundings of the place.
From it all the busy life of the water can
be observed. A little way off can be seen
the three mighty stationary batteries that
look like great black sentinels frowning
upon every passer by-most magnificent
illustrations of the military power of the
United Kingdom. On the land great lines
of Notifications trend in every direction,
and have often wondered if, when look
ing upon these evidences of military glory,
this young woman ever recalled the great
ness of her father and the mighty control
he once exercised over the lives Of men
and the fate of nation. She can see and
muse upon English life as it was and is,
in its broadcast phases, from this pretty
arbor where the well is.
''All this is beautiful, but it is aimless,"
said the mistress to me, speaking of these
wonderful sights and their romantic and
dramatic history: Sometimes I hardly
know whether it is real or q dream, it is
so different from anything you know of
in America; yet have grown very fond
of this delightful country and these pleas
ant customs. It is thirteen years since I
came to England to live, but time has
passed so swiftly that it does not seem so
long. Naturally think great deal
about the United States, for all my family
are there, and no matter what changes
one makes in life, thoughts of our native
land will frequently crowd into our ref1ec-
tions. MY recollections of my early
home in America are very dear to me, but
yet the responsibilities of later life bring
their reward as well. My girlhood life
was delightful, and every one in America
was exceedingly kind to me. think I
inherited my fathers dislike for politics,
for, although went into the White
House girl, never took any interest in
political conditions, and have followed
the same rule since have been in Eng
land.
sI do not recall many of the ladies who
were leaders in Washington society when
my father was president, for was too
Young to know them intimately, and girl
associates of my own age were not numer-
GUS. How wonderfully things have
changed since those days.
ttBut these are reflections in which ]
ought not to indulge. / have new respon-
gtbilities in these new days. You spoke
about the condition of women in England.
Tt is somewhat different here than in
America; but you must remember the la
dies assume more self reliance here than
American women know. They are reso-
lutte, full OF good health, are fond of exer-
else and take to the sports Of the field
with the men. They do not expect the
attention which American women demand;
yet think English ladies are treated with
courtesy as real and substantial as the wo-
men of any other country. There may not be
quite SO much obsequious courtesy shown
them, but in those elements of association
which really tend to make up ones hap
piness there is as much attention paid
women in England as anywhere in the
world It is an old country and its Gus
toms are well established. There is not
the 1.-THE of ceremony that most people
think, and there is great deal to COM
mend in what American women find
strange at first, but would very soon fall
into. Frank A. Burr's Letter in New
York World